I'm 47, have had 5 kids and am a grandma. I'm also type 2 diabetic (diabetes runs in the family so I'm not surprised.) I've lost 24 pounds in the last 2 years, but I'm still "thick" from below my rib cage to butt cheeks. My abs are hard...

I want to get my waist measurement down. Is there any hope or should I just accept it as part of having 5 kids and being overweight for several years?

I do what I call "X" exercises. I stand like an "X" and then bring my left knee up and my right elbow down past it (bending arm and leg). Then I do the opposite (right knee and left elbow). It's like a standing cross crunch. Another thing I do is standing lunge cruches (stand in a lunge position, arms extended overhead; bring back knee up in front of you and bend both arms bringing your elbows in to your waist, then go back to original position). And windmills, like from calestenics class.

I do what I call "X" exercises. I stand like an "X" and then bring my left knee up and my right elbow down past it (bending arm and leg). Then I do the opposite (right knee and left elbow). It's like a standing cross crunch. Another thing I do is standing lunge cruches (stand in a lunge position, arms extended overhead; bring back knee up in front of you and bend both arms bringing your elbows in to your waist, then go back to original position). And windmills, like from calestenics class.